Findlay Council may seek expert to help draft strategic plan

Findlay City Council may decide Tuesday whether to move forward with plans to pursue hiring a professional facilitator to help officials draft a long-term strategic plan for the city. Council meets in regular session at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Findlay Municipal Building, 318 Dorney Plaza. The meeting is open to the public. Face coverings and social distancing are required, and the meeting will also be livestreamed on the city's YouTube channel, Findlay Ohio. The council's Strategic Planning Committee, chaired by Jeff Wobser, R-at-large, has recommended that the city issue a "request for qualifications," or RFQ, to attract qualified professionals who would be willing and capable to help the city draft a plan. The language included in the RFQ is currently being reviewed by the city's legal consultants. Should the council agree to advertise for a qualified facilitator, the field would be narrowed to about three based on their qualifications. Those candidates would then be asked to submit proposals and costs. Wobser, who advocated for the formation of the new council committee two years ago, said strategic planning has proven to be a very difficult task. "It's because a strategic plan for the city can mean so many different things to so many different people," said Wobser. "Maybe your main issue is to eliminate all potholes? It's very important to you, but others could have a different idea." He said discussion among the committee itself can be wide and varied. Strategic Planning Committee members include: Wobser, Mayor Christina Muryn, Auditor Jim Staschiak and councilmen Dennis Hellmann, R-2, Josh Palmer, R-7, along with Grant Russel and Tom Shindledecker, both R-at-large. "I believe strategic planning is critical. When done properly, it brings stakeholders together to ensure alignment of resources, vision and accountability. The city of Findlay operations completed this a few years ago and it has proven very beneficial," said Muryn. "Now that council is investigating a Findlay-wide strategic plan, bringing in a consultant to help facilitate the process is key to ensure an executable result." Wobser agreed. He said once the planning circle is broadened to include all council members, city administrators and community residents, from both the public and private sectors, along with Findlay's nonprofits, having a well-qualified facilitator to help manage the complexity of the conversation will be necessary. "We want to involve the public, but in an efficient manner. We're hoping to learn some avenues to get that done," he said. "We have to stay focused and move this along." The last citywide strategic plan was developed in 2006, when Tony Iriti was mayor of Findlay. Wobser volunteered to help with the creation of that plan, too. He called it a big undertaking that resulted in a big plan. He said it did bring some change to the city, but the document itself is large and unwieldy, and has, for the most part, be left on the shelf. The goal this time is to create a "living document," capable of changing and growing with the city. "The No. 1 reason I am on city council is to make sure the city remains a great place to live and raise a family, like when I was growing up," said Wobser. "Council members and mayors come and go all the time. I want to create a device that will help guarantee the city remains a great place — well into the future, long after I'm not around — and continues to thrive." Wobser has served on Findlay City Council since Dec. 1, 2015, when he was appointed to fill an unexpired term, and is seeking reelection this year. He is one of five candidates vying for three open, at-large seats in the May 4 Republican primary election. The field also includes Russel, current 5th Ward Councilman Randy Greeno, former 1st Ward Councilwoman Holly Frische and Dr. Andre Gilbert, a political newcomer. Shindledecker, now serving his fourth term as an at-large councilman, is not seeking reelection. No Democrats filed for the primary election. Independent candidates have until May 3 to file for the Nov. 2 general election. Grant: 419-427-8412